Swimming Guidance learn/teach skills Module 7 to put the Face and Head into the Water by Blowing Bubbles .... post 33



Rhythm is a part of our nature. Water has her own rhythm (http://swimmingguidance.blogspot.com/2013/10/about-what-water-is-and-using-her.html post 3).

Each swimming skill that we learn has a rhythm. Through gentle guidance, listening, thinking, concentration skills, trust, repetitive practices we shall realise and adapt our rhythm to the rhythm of water which creates a feeling of fearlessness and great personal achievement. This state of well being is necessary for our progression from basic ‘blowing’ skills

We have progressed from basic play skills (http://swimmingguidance.blogspot.com/2013/12/swimming-guidance-learnteach-skills_19.html  post 27).
 
We now set a goal to achieve the most valuable swimming, drown proofing, life skill , learning to put our face and head under water.
 
In the position of the ‘crocodile walk’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0gaL9bUJLI&f ,
(http://swimmingguidance.blogspot.com/2013/12/swimming-guidance-learnteach-skills_16.html post 25)
a skill we learned as part of orientation we now use with a purpose. We learn to, by ‘counting rhythmically’ to three then opening our mouths wide to ‘take a big breath’ so that we can blow lovely long ‘moo’ bubbles out while we watch them and concentrate only on ‘blowing out’
 

When we use the voice to blow out under the water we control the speed and the power of the exhalation. The deeper our face is under the water the greater the resistance of water we will blow against. We all relate to the sound of ‘moo’ which is also the most comfortable word to express under water

 

I was trying to teach Tenille to use her voice to blow bubbles. ‘Daisy’ the farm cow at ‘Tabankulu’ bellowed her ‘moo’ while grazing next to the swimming pool. A ‘light bulb’ moment! I tried every letter in the alphabet. ‘Moo’ is the most functional

 

At the basic learning/teaching stage we associate ‘blowing out like blowing out a candle’. We can all relate to blowing out a candle. That basic stage is simply ‘blowing air out on the surface of the water’ (http://swimmingguidance.blogspot.com/2013/12/swimming-guidance-learnteach-skills_19.html  post 27)

 

We watch the bubbles each time we blow them. This stimulates focus on the ‘blowing’ action. As we progress to rhythmically count to take that ‘big breath’ again to now focus on blowing while the cheek is in the water we do not realise that our face is slowly (through not teaching the obvious) going under water. The next ‘big breath’ and focus is on the ear in the water. Now, we must give the ‘other cheek’ then the other ‘ear’ a turn in the water while we blow bubbles

 

A further progression is to try to blow bubbles while the cheek is in the water, keep blowing, turn the face so that the other cheek is in the water. Motivate a further challenge to put the ear in the water, keep blowing while turning the head so that the other ear is in the water. The face submerges during the turning of the head
 

Rhythmic counting, big breath in between each blowing action is necessary. The reason, the purpose will become more evident as we progress to co-ordination skills.

The focus is on ‘blowing out’ without sucking water in through the mouth or ‘sniffing’ water in through the nose. Should this happen, the natural reaction of the lungs is to cough and splutter to prevent it from entering the lungs. We too splutter and cough to turn this ‘oops’ into a positive fun experience. Immediately repeat practices to move beyond possible fear

The next challenge and goal is to blow bubbles out of the nose by using the voice sounding ‘mmmm bubbles’. Repeat practices as with mouth bubble blowing. In water always breathe in through the mouth
 

The ultimate achievement is to blow bubbles out of the mouth and nose at the same time. ‘Explosive breathing’ is used when a swimmer is under physical swimming pressure during competitive racing or when tired from a long distance swim
 

The most advanced progression from all the previous motivations is to fearlessly enjoy being underwater, to automatically take in that ‘deep breath’, to hold it while under water. A fun game is to rhythmically count how long a breath can be held, to try to hold a breath for longer even though air is needed

With no fear of our faces and heads under water, with complete control of our breathing we are not limited in the skills, the diversified activities we can learn, the water environment we can participate in

When we understand how to and why we must take a ‘deep breath’ before submerging in water, have experienced these skills through many practices, we then truly realise our limit in water, will keep ourselves safe in and around it ....